Spider-Man vs. The Sinister Sixteen #1 – Bad Food, Great Service

While not well-known for it, J. Michael Straczynski can be quite the craftsman when it comes to writing humor in the pages of his superhero fanfare. His run on The Amazing Spider-Man is a great example of this—especially in those earlier John Romita Jr. issues—but this week’s Spider-Man vs. The Sinister Sixteen #1 finds him at his sharpest, penning a tale of heart and humor that immediately sucked me into the fun and spat me out with a smile. It may not be a groundbreaking work, but it’s an excellent example of how ‘slice-of-life’ stories can be effective in the genre, if paced with intent.

JMS gets to the point quickly, utilizing small yet well-timed bits of recurring humor to lay the book out with a guided rhythm. Although this story is mostly people eating food and talking, it has a strong theme at its core, with genuine tension guiding it through a simple narrative structure with ease. Can a group of people predisposed to negativity sit together and allow their human camaraderie to bring out the best in them—even for one evening? It’s the question at the heart of this tale, and as funny as it is, that humor lays the groundwork for the theme to be thoroughly examined. I would say more, but this one best read without anything of true detail going in.

Coupled with this sharpness is the visual styling of Phil Noto, an excellent artist who’s been a bit misused by the Marvel office as of late. These stories—the ones that evoke a sense of reality while maintaining a cartoonish flair—are the ones he’s best at bringing to life. The action in this issue is less of a cinematic beatdown and more of a Where’s Waldo-style spread of comedic and character-driven genius. His panel pacing works with the script to really drive this story home as elegantly as possible.